THE PLANTAIN. 243 



or lesse, and two or three fingers bigge ; yet is there much LlB - IV - 

 difference heerein betwixt some and others. They take 

 away the rinde, and all the rest is a firrne kernell and tender, 

 good to eate, and nourishing. This fruite inclines more to 

 cold then lieate. They are accustomed to gather the boughs 

 or clusters, as I have said, being greene, and put them into 

 vessells, where they ripen, being well covered, especially 

 when there is a certaine hearbe mingled with it, which 

 serves for this effect. If they suffer them to ripen on the 

 tree, they have a better taste, and a very good smell, 

 like to camuesas. They last almost all the yeere, for 

 that there are alwaies yong ones that grow out of this 

 stocke ; so as when one endes another beginnes to yeelde 

 his fruite ; the one is halfe ripe, and the other be 

 ginnes to bud anew, so as one succeedes another, and the 

 fruite continues the whole yeere. In gathering the cluster, 

 they cut the sprigge or stalke, for that it beares but one, 

 and never but once : but as I have saide, the stalke re- 

 maines, and castes forth new stnlkes, vntill it growes olde 

 and dies. This plantain continues many yeares, and re 

 quires much moisture, and a very hote ground. They 

 put ashes at the foote of it, for the better entertaining 

 therof, and they make small groves, and very thicke, which 

 are of great profit and revenue vnto them ; for that it is the 

 fruite they vse most at the Indies, and is generall in all 

 places, although they say the first beginning comes from 

 Ethiopia. And trueth the Negros vse them much, and in 

 some places they serve them as bread, yea they make wine 

 of them. They eate this fruite rawe like other fruits ; they 

 likewise roast it, and make many sorts of potages and con 

 serves, and in all thinges it serve th very well. There is a 

 kinde of small plantains, white, and very delicate, which in 

 Hispaniola they call Dominiques. There are others which 

 are stronger and bigger, and red of colour. There growe 

 none in the kingdome of Peru, but they are brought from 



R 2 



